The woman student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Odisha’s Balasore, who attempted self-immolation outside the principal’s office of the institute and undergoing treatment in a critical condition at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, succumbed to injuries late night on Monday, July 14.
In a medical update late night on Monday, Department of Burn Centre of AIIMS Bhubaneswar stated, “Despite adequate resuscitation and all possible supportive management, including renal replacement therapy at Burns ICU, she could not be revived and was declared clinically dead at 11:46 PM on July 14.”
The woman student, referred to the hospital from District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Balasore on July 12, was resuscitated with IV fluids, IV antibiotics, intubated and put on mechanical ventilation, informed the AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Odisha Balasore FM College Case: What exactly happened?
The female B.Ed student set herself ablaze after pouring petrol on herself in front of the principal’s chamber on Saturday, July 13, over alleged sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HOD) of her discipline, Samir Kumar Sahu.
The student with over 90 per cent burn injuries was rushed to Balasore Medical College, but was later shifted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, for advanced treatment.
Prior to the self-immolation bid, she had staged a sit-in protest near the college campus demanding action against the accused HoD Sahu for the alleged misbehaviour.
She was very upset as no action was taken against the HoD by the college authorities despite her lodging a formal complaint against the accused Sahu.
However, following the self-immolation by the women, Sahu was immediately arrested by the Sahadevkhunta Police after a case was registered against him under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 108 (abetment to suicide), 75(1)(iii) (sexual harassment), etc.
Earlier on Monday, police arrested the Principal of the FM College, Dillip Kumar Ghose, who was placed under suspension for failing to deal with the matter properly.
Odisha CM assures action against culprits
Amid the death of the woman student of FM College, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed condolences and assured support to the family, and promises strict action against the culprits.
“I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the demise of the female student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College. Despite the government’s fulfilment of all responsibilities and the tireless efforts of the expert medical team, the victim’s life could not be saved. I pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul and may Lord Jagannath grant strength to the family to bear this irreparable loss.”
ଫକୀର ମୋହନ ସ୍ୱୟଂଶାସିତ ମହାବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟର ପୀଡ଼ିତା ଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମର୍ମାହତ। ସରକାରଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ତ ଦାୟିତ୍ୱ ନିର୍ବାହ ତଥା ବିଶେଷଜ୍ଞ ଡାକ୍ତରୀ ଦଳଙ୍କ ଅକ୍ଲାନ୍ତ ପରିଶ୍ରମ ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ ପୀଡ଼ିତାଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ରକ୍ଷା ହୋଇପାରିଲା ନାହିଁ । ତାଙ୍କର ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ଏହି ଅପୂରଣୀୟ…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) July 14, 2025
“I assure the family of the deceased student that all those guilty in this case will face the strictest punishment as per the law. For this, I have personally issued instructions to the authorities. The government stands firmly with the family,” the CM added.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) , Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “Hearing the news of the passing of Saumyashree Bishoi, a student under treatment in the Baleshwar Fakirmohan Autonomous College incident, I am deeply saddened and heartbroken. I pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extend my condolences to the grieving family. In this sorrowful time, may Lord Jagannath grant the family immense patience and courage. Om Shanti.”
Odisha govt seeks report on status of functioning of Internal Complaints Committees
Earlier in the day on Monday, Odisha Higher Education Department issued an urgent directive to all state public and private universities, as well as government, aided, and unaided degree colleges under its purview, to submit reports regarding the functioning of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.
Higher Educational Institutions (HEls) across the state have been directed to submit the reports within 24 hours. The Department in its order referred to the communications earlier sent to all colleges and Universities in the state regarding the constitution of the internal committees.
“Submit compliance of the instructions on IC (Internal Committee) within 24 hours in strict adherence to Section 4 of the said Act, including appropriate representation of women members and external representatives. Also, follow UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015,” reads the order issued by the Higher Education Department.
The HEIs have also been instructed to display the name and contact number of all ICC Members in a conspicuous place in the respective institutions for the general awareness.
The department has also asked the educational institutes to upload all the details of the members in the Higher Education Information Management System (HIMS) portal.
The higher educational institutes have been directed to immediately organise workshops on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 for the sensitisation of students and faculty members.
“You are further requested to ensure that a geo-tagged photograph of the location where the details of the IC are displayed is uploaded to the link: (https://tinyurl.com/ICCHED25) positively,” urged the department.
